Tag Archives: Mendonoma coast

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One of the cutest critters on the Mendonoma Coast is a  Gray Fox Kit. They are being born now in hidden away dens or, in the case of one lucky woman, underneath a deck. Kathryn Hile discovered a litter of four Fox Kits under her deck in her enclosed courtyard in The Sea Ranch. What fun Kathryn will have in the days to come, photographing these enchanting creatures. A photo of one of the Kits was published today in the Independent Coast Observer with my column Mendonoma Sightings. To see that photo go to mendonoma.com, click on on-line features and then color photos. Kathryn has kindly given me permission to share two other photos here. The first one is of the male adult Gray Fox, aka "Daddy." The second one is of one of the Kits interacting with "Daddy."
             My best to you today, Jeanne Jackson, Gualala

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Frank Drouillard and Nan Brichetto were hiking in Sonoma County when they heard the racket. They looked up and saw two heads poked out of a hole of a tree. Nan usually gets the shot, but she handed the camera to Frank and he got the fantastic photo of an adult Pileated Woodpecker at the opening of the nest cavity with the two babies' heads awaiting food. Thanks much to Frank for sharing his photograph here with us.

Pileated Woodpeckers are our largest woodpeckers here on the Mendonoma Coast. They have a prehistoric look to them, don't you agree? Their territory is quite large - 200 acres or more. Their call is unique. Once heard it will never be forgotten.

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American Goldfinches have arrived in great numbers to the Mendonoma Coast. Many of the males are in bright yellow breeding plumage to attract females. It's as if rays of sunshine were sitting on top of our Douglas fir tree. Rick and I put a thistle feeder out this spring, as we have the last several years, and we've been rewarded by the sight and sound of these little birds. The males sing a lovely song. We have also put out yarn for the females to use in making their nests. I guess you could call us "enablers."

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The late rains have given the Mendonoma Coast a fantastic wildflower season. Wild rhododendrons and azaleas continue to bloom in abundance though today's wind won't be kind to them. Salt Point State Park is in Sonoma County is one of my favorite parks. It spans many miles on both sides of Highway One. (Note to our elected leaders: To have this or any state park closed is a travesty.) John Sperry kindly allowed me to share his photo of the wildflowers now blooming on the bluffs.

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A tiny wildflower is now blooming in the forest on the Mendonoma Coast. That would be the Pacific Starflower. It is growing on banks where False Solomon Seal and Fairy Bells bloomed earlier. It's a welcome addition to the spring wildflowers.